The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Related articles

VOLUME 17 , ISSUE 8 ( August, 2016 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Work-related Musculoskeletal Pain among Different Dental Specialists in United Arab Emirates

Natheer H Al-Rawi, Hiba El Khatib, Lin Rajoub, Mariem El-Sayed, Rawand Naji, Reem Youssef, Sausan Al Kawas

Citation Information : Al-Rawi NH, Khatib HE, Rajoub L, El-Sayed M, Naji R, Youssef R, Kawas SA. Work-related Musculoskeletal Pain among Different Dental Specialists in United Arab Emirates. J Contemp Dent Pract 2016; 17 (8):639-644.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1904

Published Online: 01-12-2016

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2016; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction

Dentists are at a very high risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal pain. The present study aimed at studying the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among different dental specialists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and correlating the region of pain with the type of clinical work done by the specialists.

Materials and methods

A sample of more than 100 dentists was chosen randomly from different emirates in UAE. An interview questionnaire was administered regarding the number of years of experience and the presence, region, duration, and type of musculoskeletal pain they experienced.

Results

Musculoskeletal pain is experienced by 83.3% of periodontists, 80% of conservative dentists, 77.8% of endodontists, 72.7% of orthodontists, 70% of oral surgeons, 63.6% of prosthodontists, 63% of general dental practitioners, and 50% of pedodontists. The results have also indicated that the region of experienced musculoskeletal pain does vary according to the specialty. From those dentists who experience work-related musculoskeletal pain, 80% of conservative dentists experience pain in neck and shoulders, 66.7% of periodontists, and 54.5% of orthodontists experience pain in the lower back region. More than 50% of endodontists experience pain in the neck and shoulders regions, and 39% of general dental practitioners who experience pain in the neck region.

Conclusion

Preventive measures need to be taken to decrease the risk of dentists and dental specialists developing workrelated musculoskeletal pain.

Clinical significance

The prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among registered general dental practitioners and dental specialists in UAE was not clearly documented. The study results indicated that the region that experienced musculoskeletal pain does vary according to the specialty.

How to cite this article

Al-Rawi NH, El Khatib H, Rajoub L, El-Sayed M, Naji R, Youssef R, Al Kawas S. Work-related Musculoskeletal Pain among Different Dental Specialists in United Arab Emirates. J Contemp Dent Pract 2016;17(8): 639-644.


PDF Share
  1. Musculoskeletal disorder among dentists and variation in dental work. Appl Ergon 1998 Apr;29(2):119-125.
  2. Musculosketelal symptoms in New South Wales dentists. Aust Dent J 1997 Aug;42(4):240-246.
  3. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal complaints among dentists in India: a national cross-sectional survey. Indian J Dent Res 2013 Jul-Aug;24(4):428-438.
  4. Occupational health problems of dentists in southern Thailand. Int Dent J 2000 Feb;50(1):36-40.
  5. Prevalence and associated factors of musculoskeletal pain among the dental personnel in a dental school. J Med Assoc Thai 2010 Jun;93(6):714-721.
  6. Perceived musculoskeletal symptoms among dental students in the clinic work environment. Ergonomics 2008 Apr;51(4):573-586.
  7. Ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder: as an occupational hazards in dentistry. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013 Mar 1;14(2):299-303.
  8. Musculoskeletal disorders amongst Greek endodontists: a national questionnaire survey. Int Endod J 2014 Aug;47(8):791-801.
  9. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2004 Jun9;5:16.
  10. The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Indian orthodontists. J Indian Orthod Soc 2012 Oct-Dec;46(4):264-268.
  11. Occupational health problems of dentists in the United Arab Emirates. Int Dent J 2012 Feb;62(1):52-56.
  12. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. J Phys Ther Sci 2015 Apr;27(4):1107-1112.
  13. Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among dentists in some Egyptian cities. Egypt J Occup Med 2009;33(1):55-71.
  14. Back and neck problems among dentists and dental auxillaries. J Contemp Dent Pract 2001 Aug 15;2(3):17-30.
  15. Standardized Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon 1987 Sep;18(3):233-237.
  16. Ergonomics and musculoskeletal pain among postgraduate students and faculty members of the School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona. A cross-sectional study. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 2011 May 1;16(3):e425-e429.
  17. Musculoskeletal disorders in dentists in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Iran Red Crescent Med J 2009 Oct;11(4):464-465.
  18. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental surgeons: a pilot study. Contemp Clin Dent 2011 Oct;2(4):308-312.
  19. Preventing musculoskeletal disorders in clinical dentistry. JADA 2003 Dec;134(12):1604-1612.
  20. Musculoskeletal pain management among dentists: an alternative approach. Holistic Nurs Pract 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):385-389.
  21. Evaluating dental office ergonomic risk factors and hazards. JADA 1998;Feb129(2):174-183.
  22. (Technical report). Inside Dentistry 2007 May;3(5):2-4.
  23. Musculoskeletal pain among general dentists. Gen Dent 1987 Jul-Aug;35(4):272-276.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.